The Best Laid Plans
One August afternoon, sixteen-year-old Alphard Black watched Honora Horton from behind a stack of books in Flourish & Blotts. When he had seen her in Diagon Alley, Alphard had convinced his mother to allow him to purchase his schoolbooks on his own. His mind forming a plan that would finally give him the opportunity to do the one thing he had been unable to do in the last three years: speak to her.
"Just be calm, walk over to her, and say hello. That's all there is to it; it's not like it's alchemy or anything," he muttered to himself.
Honora flicked her hair over her shoulder. Alphard leaned around the stack of tomes to get a better look. She was browsing among the Transfiguration books. Was she taking Transfiguration as well? Common classes! That would make things so much easier; he could walk right over, and just--
He suddenly lost his balance and fell flat on his face, taking the wobbly pile with him. There was a loud crash along with an avalanche of leather and paper that left the unfortunate young man on the floor, surrounded by a heap of Divination books. As he struggled to a sitting position, Alphard felt the color rising in his face. When he dared to look up, the eyes of every patron were focused on him. Honora was staring at him, her eyes round and surprised. He had wanted her to notice him but not like this!
"Are you hurt?" she asked, stepping carefully around the mess.
"I-I don't believe so," he stammered, his ever-changing voice cracking. He hastily started to stack the books on the nearest table.
"You there!" the shopkeeper called. "What is-- Oh, young Master Black, you're not hurt, are you? I'll call someone to clear this right up, young sir."
"Thank you, but no, I'll just stack these back up."
"I'll help you," Honora offered, a smile tugging at her lips. The pair silently stacked the books into a much more stable configuration. "Are you taking N.E.W.T. level Divination?"
"Not hardly," he said in a flustered tone. Then he grinned and tried to be witty. "Although, perhaps I should. Then maybe I would have seen this accident coming."
Honora failed to suppress a giggle. Alphard laughed along with her. The awkwardness was gone, and the two of them began chatting about the classes they planned to take in September. They both pick up the same book, and their fingers touched, sending a quivery feeling up Alphard's arm. Forcing himself not to do or say anything foolish, he asked, "Would you care to stop by the Leaky Cauldron for a butterbeer?"
"No thank you," Honora replied, but (noticing his crushed expression) she added with a smile, "I would much rather have an ice cream from Fortescue's."
Alphard stood up and extended his hand to her, pulling her to her feet. Honora continued to hold his hand as the pair exited the shop to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
A/N: Seriously, how suave and debonair can someone be with a name like Alphard? I just had this vision of him being very Neville Longbottom-ish. Go ahead and giggle; we've all been there.